Coin-controlled apparatus.



110.855.008.. PATENTEE MAY 28% 119m.

' H. G KBLLOGG.

GOIN GONTRGLLED APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION HLBD MAB. 21,1906.

HOMER G. KELLOGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

`ICOIN-COIIITROLLED APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application led March 21,1906. Serial No. 307,146.

' 1'0 al, wifi/om t may concern,.-

Be itwknown thatl I, HoMER G. KELLOGG, al resident vof Chicago, i11- the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to coin or check-controlled apparatus and one of its objects is to provide an improved device whereby a bogus-coin or slug will be eliminated so that it will not operate the coin-controlled apparatus or device.

In practice it has been found that nearly all slugs or bogus-tokens are formed in a punch-press or by a die which leaves a slightly curved edge or edge-portion' adjacent one face of the slug and a bur or slightly prjecting portion adjacent the other face of the slug. truly formed coin or token is usually subjected to finishing dies whereby the round edge-portion and bur are removed" 'and the com is rendered trueand flat, .being usually formed with a slight bead around each face thereof. The present invention designs to utilize .this peculiarity or charac-` teristic of slugs or the difference between a slug and a coin or checkin preventing the operation of a coin-controlled device or mechanis'm by any token other than a coin or check.

"ess

The invention further designs to providel improved coin-controlled` mechanmis which is responsive only to a coin or prop'er'token and to provide a simple construction for such device.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claim 4at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a coin-controlled apparatus embodying the invention, the inclosing case being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section taken en line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 of Fig.` 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the two holding-mem-l bers of the device to which/the tokens pass and by which coins or checks are held to cause the operation of the coin-controlled device, and whereby a bogus-coin or slu Will be eliminated7 a fragment of the coin eing shown in sectiontherebetween. Fig. 5 is a front view of the same, and Fig. 6 is an en`d view 'of one of said members. Fig. 7 is a detail section of a slug or bogus-token. Fig. 8

is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a -section on line 9*9 of Fig. '5, a slug being shown in the device.

10 denotes an inclosing casing which may be of any suitable construction. Any suitable delivery-mechanism or coin-controlled apparatus may be operated by the improved device as hereinafter set forth, an example whereof is shown, comprising a chute 11 supported'in any suitable manner in the casing and designed to contain packages of merchandise 12 which rest on a base 13 and a reciproca-bly mounted ejector 14 whereby the lowest package of merchandise may be discharged forwardly from the chute onto. a guide 15 which directs the package onto a receiver lrorithe outside of the case.

The case is provided with a coin admissionslot 17 through which a coin can `be deposited into a'run-way or channel 18 which directs the tokens to the holder of the coin-controlled mechanism. The means whereby a 'truly formed coin or token effects the opera'- tion of the coin-controlled apparatus and eliminates or rejects a slug, comprises two movable membersA and B for holding the tokens, the first of which is adapted to be manually shifted and to shift a coin to cause the operation of the coin-controlled mechanism. Member A is mounted in frames or brackets 18 and 19 and has secured thereto a handle 20 whereby it can be manually operated or oscillated within the limits of stops 21 and 22, which determine the range or rotation of said member. A spring 23 retains the shaftlin its normal position which is determined by engagement of handle 20 with stop 21. Member B is mounted in brackets 18 and 19 and may, if desired, be operatively connected to the ejector -14 of the delivery mechanism by'an arm 24 which is secured to rotate with member B and is connected to ejector 14 by a link 25. Member B is held normally in position to receive a coin by a spring 27 which also 'restores said member to its normal position after each operation and retracts the ejector.

Me bers A and B constitute a holder adapted to receive a deposited token and are so constructed or formedthat only a coin or truly formed token will be held therein'during rotation of member A to connect the members so that upon operation of the coinshifting means, member B'Will be operated, whereby a coin will cause the operation of the coin-controlled device and when a slug or IIO bogus token is deposited the coin-controlled mechanism will fail to respond to the operation of the coin-shifting means. This peculiar and important result is attained by forming members A and B so that a coin or truly formed token will be displaced to cause the' operation of the coin-controlled or operated device while a slug will be rejected so that it it will not operate such mechanism or device.

`ited token between the'members.

- and effect shift of the latter member.

Each of the members is provided centrally with a recess or pocket 29 which is inclined or curved longitudinally to centralize a depos- At one side of the recess 2Q there is provided an inclined edge or surface 30 on which one of the edges of the token will rest. At the other side of the recess isprovided means for engaging the opposite face of the token, consisting of an extension or lug 31 which is projected to extend into position to engage a coin closer to its vertical center than the edge 30 and is slightly undercut as at 32 to receive a bead on the coin or token, if there be one thereon. Member B has its recess 29, edge 30 and projection 31 reversely formed, that is to say, recess -29 is sloped or inclined so a token will be centralized longitudinally, edge or surface 3() and projection 31 are arranged to engage the opposite faces or edges of the token to those engaged by the corresponding parts of member A respectively. Recesses 2,9 being curved or tapered transversely, centralize a coin transversely. -As a result of this peculiar arrangement and form of the members, a truly formed coin or-token will, when member A is operated, remain in the bite of these parts until the'coin has been swung into position to fall through a slot 33 which leads to a compartment 34 and rotate member B and operate the coin-controlled device. During rotation of member A the edge or surface .30 will impinge against the edge of a coin and press it against projection .31, andthe coin will similarly engage the edge orl surface 30 and projection 31 of member B A slug having a curved edge-portion, e. g. as shown in Fig. 7 will be rejected and fail to rotate' member B. This results because the curved edge-portion of the slug, when engaged with pro'ection 31 and when member A is rotated,

\ sai projection will operateas a cam and lift the slug free from said member. It Will be observed that the inner end 31 of projection 31 engages the face of the coin near the periphery thereof and resultantly when the slug is deposited to bring its curved edge-portion a near end 31,said end rotating about the axis of member A will ride under the curved edge and prevent the token from being held in ,member A. It is possible that a slug having a slight curved edge-portion may be deposited so that the bur edge of the slug will cause it to be held in member A. However if this occurs, the curved edge-portion of the j ber Bis free to be retracted.

slug adjacent projection 31 of member B will cause the slug to ride over the latter projection instead of gripping the same. It will be observed that the members which engage the token are relatively off set, causing the bur to act as a cam which removes the slug therefrom. Furthermore if the token held in member A does hot take hold of member B the `token will not be held into the seat of member A and will therefore be rejected. Therefore, a slug will be rejected when the shifting-means is operated. A new coin is further distinguished from a slug by having a projecting rim or bead at its edge. This aids the projection 31 in gripping the coin, but in practice it has been found that a coin having its bead or rim substantially worn off will nonetheless be held by the members, while a slug having a dished face, or a very slight curved edge-portion will be rejected and fail to pass the test or operate the coin-controlled device. A soft metal slug, e. g. one formed of metal such as lead, will not operate the device because if it were truly formed it would be insufficient in rigidity to operatively connect the members and would therefore be rejected. Tokens rejected by the members will pass forwardly and fall on guide 15 and .thereby return to the depositor.- In many coin-controlled devices much trouble results from the deposit of bent coins or slugs. Manilestly the construction of the device is such that a 'bent coin cannot clog the machine in any way..

To prevent a coin from being retracted With the operating-member A, means are provided for deferring retraction of member B until the member A has been restored. This means consists of a ratchet wheel 35 secured to revolve with member B, a dog 36 pressed normally into engagement with the ratchet by a spring 37 and secured to as'haft 37 which is extended transversely and is provided with an arm 38 which is engaged by an abutment 39 rotating with member A and holds the dog 36 normally out of engagement with the ratchet. When, however, the operating-member A is in normal position, meml Resultantly, when members -A and B are conjointly rotated by a coin, it will fall into the coin-compartment, when the handle 20 is released, the retraction of member B being deferred until the handle has been restored to approximately its normal position. By this means gravity alone is not depended upon to discharge the .coin from members A and B.

Manifestly the invention provides an improved device in which the coins can be manually shifted and which rejects a slug having the usual characteristic. In an application filed by me in the United States Patent Oiiice November 20, 1905, Serial No. 288,149, there is disclosed a coin-detector in which this result is' accomplished and in which gravitation TOO IOS

IIO

is depended upon to eHect rejection or elimination of a bogus-coin. The present invention designs more particularly to provide improved means for eliminating slugs in machines in which there is a manuallyoperable element. Obviously the present invention provides a device which embodies an element which can be manually shifted and in which gravitation alone is not depended upon to move the coins or tokens. Furthermore, the invention provides a device in which force is applied tothe coin to operate some' element of the coin-operated mechanism.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details of construction shown and described, but may be modified by the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim 'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differentlyv disposing truly formed coins or tokens,A and means for operating said means.

2. A coin-detector comprising the combination of' means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face'in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed coins or tokens,jand manually operable shifting means for the tokens.

3. A coin-detector comprising, the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and -for dierently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, and means forpositively shifting said means so a coin or token will be shifted thereby.-

4. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising two members one of which is movable, and means for operating said movable member.

5. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for diHerently disposingtruly formed tokens o'r coins, said means comprising two movable members, and means for manually operating one of said members.

6. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portionor face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising two rotatable members and ymeans for rotating one of said members.

7. A coin-detector comprising the vcombination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portionv or face in one direction and fordifferently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising means for engaging one of the faces of a token and the edge adjacent the other face.

8. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having acurved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction l,and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a movable member provided with an element for engaging one of the edge-portions of one face of a token, and aninclined edge or icam for engaging the edge adjacent the other ace.

9. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a member having a longitudinally extending recess, and 'means at each side of saidrecess betweenI which the token will be held and for rejecting a slug.

10. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising 'a rotatable member having a longitudinally extending recess, and means at each side of said recess between which the token will be held and for rejecting a slug.

i 1 1. A coin-detector comprising the combinationy of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means compris'- ing a movable member provided With a longitudinally extending seat or recess, a rojection adapted to engage oner face of a t: en, and a cam edge or surface between which a truly formed token Will be lheld and for rejecting a slug.

12. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differentlydisposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a rotatable member provided with a longitudinally extending seat or recess, a projection for engaging one face of a token, and a cam edge or surface betweenwhich a truly formed token will be held and for rejecting a slug. V

13. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising two movable members, one of which is provided with means between which a coin will be held and for rejecting a slug and the other of which is provided with' means for causing a coin tooperate the member.

14. A coin-detector comprising the combi- LI O nation of means for directing a slug having a I provided with means between which a coin will be held and for rejecting a slug and the other of which is provided with means for causing a coin to operate the member.

15. A coin-detector comprising the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly Jformed coins, said means comprising a member having a recess, a projection for engaging one face of a truly formed coin or token, and an edge or surface adjacent the other face of the token, said projection being undercut to overlie a rim on a coin.

16. In coin controlled mechanism the combination of two rotatable members, means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or Jface in one direction and forA differently disposing -truly formed coins or tokens, means for manually operating one of said members, and a device operatively connected to the other member.

17. In coin controlled mechanism, the combination of means 'for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a pair of rotatable members each having a longitudinally extending recess whereby the tokens will be centralized longitudinally and transversely, and means at each side of said recess between which a coin will be held and for rejecting a slug.

1 8. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of means for directing a slug having a curved or inclined edge-portion or face in one direction and for differently disposing truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a pair of members each having a longitudinally extending recess whereby the tokens will be centralized longitudinally and transversely, and means at each side of said recess between which a coin will be held and for rejecting a slug.

19. In coin controlled mechanism, the combination of means whereby a slughaving a curved or inclined edge- )ortion or face will be disposed differently rom truly formed tokens or coins, said means comprising a pair of members each having a longitudinally eX- tending recess whereby the tokens will be centralized longitudinally and transversely, and means at each side of said recess between which a coin will be held and whereby a slug will be rejected.

HOMER G. KELLOGG.

Witnesses:

FRED GERLACH, LEONE S. RUSSELL. 

